Ølfabrikken 100 gram IPA

Formerly brewed at Bryggeriet Ølfabrikken (Gourmetbryggeriet)
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Roskilde, Denmark

On my recent tour (thanks to estoppel) of fine imported IPA’s, this one stood out a bit. Mikeller Stateside still has it beat in the skandahovian IPA catogory, but this slick, oily strong ipa has a sweet nose (not that great), and a strong resiny/earthy hop flavor and bitterness. Warm and good.

Bottle. Amber body, medium off-white head, sweetness and hops in the nose. Underlying sweetness is well hidden by the hops; some lemony/orangey hop notes, honeyed malt, somewhat restrained bitterness in the finish.

Bottle. Poured a slightly hazy medium orange color. Head was thin and off white. Aroma was of pineapple, caramel, leather, and a hint of rubber. Sweet on the tongue with moderate hop bitterness (6 out of 10) that lingered. Carbonation was on the low end of the spectrum. Pleasant flavor palate made up of big malty caramel, pineapple, sprucy hops, and a hint of tobacco. The aroma was a bit odd, but overall I enjoyed this one.

Bottle: Dirty orange pour with a thick sandy colored head. Aroma is sweet with citrus and maltiness, just a bit of florals. Flavor is less hoppy than anticipated, but has nice citrus and grapefruit sweets and bitters. Lots of malty sweetness and kind of a tangy, zesty zing. Palates well. I’d tend to agree with the comparision to a barley wine. Still, a tasty one.

Poured with a medum copper body. The aroma was caramel and light grapefruit with some almonds. The taste was bitter with walnuts and a bit of dirt. There was also a coconut note. This was obviously well made, but a little strange.

Bomber. Pours a hazy dark orange-amber with big, tight ivory head. The aroma is exsquisitely hoppy- tons of pine, some strawberry, pineapple, some grapefruit- and a strong fruity sweetness. The flavor is more floral and herbal than the nose had led me to expect. It starts with very sticky tea, hemp, and meadow notes, then moves on to some plum and dark honey sweetness. Chewy pine resin takes over the finish, and leaves bitterness and strawberries in the aftertaste. There is a very coarse graininess throughout that reminds me of wool for some reason... I’ve noticed this in Scandinavian beers before. Still, this is some pretty good stuff.

Bottle pours a hazy light orange with a dense lasting off white head. Huge sweet malt aroma woth alcohol notes and a touch of bitter hops. Bitter and sweet malts. Heavy and almost syurpy. Big bodied and big flavored. Barley wine. Thanks Jordan.

Considering the style, Scores ranging from 1 to 5, 5 being the most intense
Appearance:
Body:   Clear(1)->Murky(5) : 3     Pale Yellow(1)->Dark brown(5) : 3     Still(1)->Sparkling(5) : 3
Head:   None(1)->Large(5) : 3   White(1)->Tan(5) : 2   Lasting: 4   Lacing : 4
Aroma:
Intensity : 4  
Yeast : XX   Bread : XX   Apple : XX   Tropical Fruits : 3   Soap : XX   DMS : XX   Diacetyl : 2 Sulfur : XX  
Malt : 4   Biscuity : 3   Hay : XX   Toasty : 2   Caramel : 2   Nuts : XX   Honey : 3   Cereals : 2   Grainy : XX
Hops : 4   Noble(1)->American(5) : 4   Leafy : XX   Spicy : XX   Floral : 2   Lemon/Lime : XX   Grapefruit : 4   Orange : 2   Herbal : XX   Grassy : XX   Pine/Spruce/Resin : 4  
Notes :   Peach/Apricot : XX   Earth : 1   Mint : XX   Butterscotch : XX   Smoke : XX
Flavor:
Initial Flavor : Dry(1)->Sweet(5) : 4   Finish Dry(1)->Sweet(5) : 2   Sourness : XX   Bitterness : 4   Complex : XX   Length : XX
Palate:
Light(1)->Full(5) : 4   Flat(1)->Fizzy(5) : 3   Clean : XX   Sharp : 3   Watery : XX   Oily : 2   Chalk : XX   Astringent : XX   Alcohol : 1   Mineral : XX   Oxidation : XX   Metallic : XX

Comments: An American-influence, straight-on double IPA loaded with citrusy hoppiness and supporting it nicely with a full-bodied, malty palate. Right on.